Automobile lighting system and control switch for the same



3m 9, 1940' c. a. ERICKSON 2,186,913

AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE SAME Filed May 12, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l A II I w I 4 -l 3 /9 212 g v. j M55; x 5 1 92 z I I [I z 54 M w n I I 22 5 f 6 22 4a 7 15 z +4 50 J 25 v 2/ mm Jan. 9, 1940. c. l. ERICKSON 2,185,911

AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE SAME Filed May 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 9, 1940.

C. l. ERICKSON AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND CONTROL SWI ICH FOR THE SAME Filed May 12'. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WWW Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMCBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND CON- TROL SWITCH FOR THE SAME This invention relates to automobile lighting systems and control switches for such systems.

One important object the invention is to provide a novel lighting system of the kind hereinafter described wherein signals for right and left turning of an automobile are given by the flashing oi! certain filaments of the ordinary lights of an automobile.

A second important object of the invention is Q to provide a novel lighting system of the kind herein set forth whereby the dim light filaments of the right and left headlights of an automobile I are selectively flashed to indicate right and left turns of the vehicle respectively.

A third important object of theinvention is to provide an improved system of this kind wherein the right head and tail lights or the left head and tail lights .of an automobile are caused to flash simultaneously to indicate right and left turns of the vehicle respectively.

A Iourth important object of the invention is to provide an improved system of this character wherein the dim lights of an automobile are flashed and wherein, in the event of failure of the dim lights the bright lights of the vehicle may be caused to flash-1dr signal purposes as substitutes for the dim lights ordinarily to be used.

A- flfth important object 01 the invention wherein a novel switch or circuit closer of the 80 character hereinafter fully explained whereby both the closing of the usual lighting circuits and the control of the flasher circuits is used in a flasher signal system for automobile signals.

With the above and other objects in view, the

86 invention consists in general 01 certain novel circuits, combinations of elements and arrangements of details hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and par- Figure 5 is a section on the line 6-45 of Figure 4 with the outer casing omitted.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6- 6 of Figure 55 4 with the outer casing omitted.

In the accompanying drawings like characters Figure '7 is an inverted plan view of the bottom oi the inner and insulating casing.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section on the line 8& of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section on the line 99 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit connections for the lighting system of this invention. r

The switch used in this invention is shown in Figures 1 to 9 in complete mechanical construction and in Figure 10 in diagram. As shown especially in Figures 1 to 9 this switch is provided with an inner casing ill of suitable insulating material and an outer casing H which may be of any preferred material, insulating or otherwise. The inner casing is preferably molded from a single block of insulating material and includes a rectangular bottom I2 from which extends upwardly a pair of side walls i3 which are flaringly disposed so that they are further apart at the top of the casing than at the bottom thereof. Also the inner casing ID has parallel end walls H which, with the side and bottom walls, provide a bluntly wedge shaped space l5 within the casing.

Seated on the bottom ii are three bearing yokes l6, l1 and i8. Bolts i9 extend through the bottom l2 and through the bottoms of the yokes. Within the yokes nuts 20 are fitted on the upper ends of the bolts l8 and beneath the bottom' l2 these bolts are provided with nuts 21 and washers 22. By means of these bolts and nuts the yokes are firmly attached to the bottom 12. Also the bolts i9 carry nuts 23 which cooperate with the nuts 2| to constitute clamps or binding posts of circuit terminals. Each of the yokes i6, I1 and I8 is provided with a pivot pin 24 and on these pins between the yoke arms are pivoted the lower ends of blades 25, 2B, and 21. The upper ends of the blades are laterally shouldered and pass through a tie bar 28 of insulating material, the extremities of the blades being upset as at 29 to hold the tie barin place. One or more handles 30 are secured to the bar 28 by bolts 3i and nuts 32. It will be observed that the yokes I6, i1 and i8 are spaced along the median line of the bottom i2 so that they are equidistant from the sides i3,. Thus the blades may be swung from the central position shown in Figure 4 towards one side [3 or the other.

Mounted on the inner faces of the sides l3 are oppositely disposed clip yokes 33 and 34, a second pair of oppositely disposed clip yokes 35 and 36 and a third pair of oppositely disposed clip yokes 31 and 38. The clips 33 and 34 are disposed to engage the blade 25 and are sufficiently close to be spanned by the blade in normal position as in Figure 4. Similarly. the clips 31 and 38 are disposed to receive and span the blade 21. The clips 35 and 36 are disposed to engage the blade 26 upon swinging of the blades out of the normal position of Figure 4 but do not normally engage 4 the blade 25. It is further to be noted that when pass through the washers 40 and serve to connect circuit terminals through the washers 40 and bolts 39 to .the contact clips. In Figure 10 these clips are indicated conventionally as contacts.

The outer casing II encloses the inner casing and consists of a bottom 43 from which extends an end wall 44 which engages against the outer face of one end wall I4, the bottom 43 being spaced below the bottom I2 to accommodate the bottom binding posts I9. The bottom 43 is longer than the bottom I2 and thus projects beyond the other end I4. A second end wall 45 extends upwardly from 43 in spaced parallel relation to the last mentioned end I4. A vertical side 46 extends upwardly from one side edge of the bottom and is fixed ,to the bottom. The 'end walls 44 and 45 extend upwardly to the top edges of the inner casing walls and the top of one wall I3 rests against the top of the wall 46. Covering the inner casing is a top 41 having an opening 48 formed therein to permit passage of the handles and permit them to be swung to bring the blade 26 into selective engagement with the clips and 36. There is thus provided an open sided outer casing and the open side is closed by a side member 49 positioned to close the open side by any suitable means such as the dowel pins 50. In order to hold the side member 49 in place and the inner casing in fixed position in the outer casing the following means is provided. The inner casing I0 is provided near its bottom with pairs of aligned bosses 5| projecting from the walls I3 and through these bosses and their supporting walls bolt holes 52 are provided which align with corresponding bolt holes 53 formed in the walls 46 and 49. Bolts 54 extend through the bolt holes 52 and 53 and are provided with nuts 55 and with spacers 56 which may be integral with the sides 46 and 49 or separate therefrom. Thus, when the nuts 55 are screwed up the parts are firmly held together. An opening 51 is provided in the wall'45 for connecting wires. A clip ring 58 may be secured to the wall 45 as in Figure l to support the switch on a .steering column or a clip or connector as indi- The circuit connections for grounded at I0. a lamp having a dim light filament II and a {bright light filament I2 each having one terwith a two filament lamp having a dim light filament 65 and a bright light filament 66 each of which has one terminal. grounded as at 61. The right headlight similarly has a lamp provided with a dim light filament 68 and a bright light filament 69 which each have one terminal At the left rear lamps 63 is minal grounded at I3. The rightrear arrangement has a lamp provided with a dim light filament I4 and a bright light filament I5 each having one terminal grounded as at I6. The battery 60 has its positive terminal connected by a wire 11 to oneterminal of an ammeter I8 which has its other terminal connected by a wire I9 to one terminal of a fuse 80. The other terminal of the fuse is connected by a wire 8| to a dash switch 82 having contacts 83 and 84 connected in multiple to the wire 8| and arranged to close circuits to contacts 86 and 81. The wire 0| is connected by a wire 88 with one terminal of a'fiasher 89 of any well known construction. The other terminal of the flasher 89 is connected by a wire 90 with the blade 26 through its binding post. The contact 86 is connected by a wire 9| with a switch having a movable contact 92 and a pair of fixed contacts 93' and 94, the contact 92 being normally closed on the contact 93 but movable to engage the contact 94. The contact 93 is connected by a wire 95 with the blade 21 through its binding post. The contact 38 is connected by a wire 96 with the filament 66 and the contact 31 is connected by a wire 91 with the filament 69. The contact 94 is connected by a wire 98 with the blade 25 through its binding post. The contact 34 is connected by a wire 99 with the filament 65 and the contact 33 is connected by a wire- I00 with the filament 68.

The contact 35 is connected by a wire IOI to switch having a pair of fixed contacts I08 and I09 with the former of which the contact I0! is normally closed. The contact I08 is connected by a wire II 0 with the wire I00. The contact I04 is connected by a wire III with the wire 96 and the contact I 09 is connected by a wire II2 with the wire 91. The wire 96 is connected at a point between the connection of wire III and filament 66 by a wire II3 with filament I2. The wire I05 is connected by a wire II4 with the filament II. The wire 91 is connected between the connection of wire 2 and filament 69 by a wire II5 with the filament I5. The wire II 0 is connected by a wire II6 with filament I5. The contact 81 is connected by a wire III with the movable contact II8 of a normally open/parking light switch having a fixed contact-I I9 with which the contact 8 may engage. A wire I20 leads from the contact 9 and has.branches I2I leading to the respective right and left front parking lights I22- A wire I23 leads from the wire I II and is provided with branches I24 leading to rear parking lights I25. The front parking lights are grounded at 61 and I0 and the rear parking lights are grounded at I3 and I6 respectively. A branch wire I26 leads from the wire'88 to the movable contact I2'I of a stop switchhaving a fixed contact I28 which is connected by a wire I29 with the wire I23. Pilot lights I are interposed in wires III, Ill, III and III. Relays III are connected in the wires IIII and III to close circuits through pilot light I32, these relays being of ordinary construction.

The several circuits occurring under varying conditions of operation will now be traced, the dash switch being in one of its closed positions corresponding to the circuit to be closed. With the special switch above described having its blades in central or normal position and the contact 92 engaging contact 93 current will flow from the battery 99 through wire 11, ammeter I9, wire 19, fuse 90, wire 9i, contact 83, contact 96, wire 9I, contact 92, contact 93, wire 99, blade 21 and from there through contact 31, wire 91. filament B9 and ground 10 back to the battery through ground BI. Also current will flow from wire 91 through wire Iii, filament I5 and ground I6 back to the battery through ground SI Under the same conditions current will fiow from the blade 21 through contact 39, wire 99, filament 88, ground 61 and ground 6i back to the battery. Also current will flow from wire 99 through wire 3, filament I2, ground I3 and ground BI back to the battery. It will be seen that under these conditions the bright light filaments 89, 69, I2 and I5 will all be connected in multiple to the battery 60. If the floor switch 92 be depressed to engage the contact 94 current will flow as under the first conditions to the contact 92 but will flow from there through the contact 94. wire 98, blade 25, contact 38, wire IIIIl, filament 58, ground III and ground GI back to the battery. Also current will flow from wire IIIIi through wire l ID, wire H6, filament [4, ground it and ground GI back to the battery. At the same time current will flow from the blade 25 through contact 34, wire 99, filament t5, ground 9'! and ground SI back to the battery. Also current will-flow from wire 99, through wire E95, wire ill, filarnent ll, ground I3 and ground SI back to the battery. Under these second conditions the dim light filaments 95, 68, TI and it will be connected in multiple to the battery and the bright light filaments 55, 69, i2 and '15 will be disconnected.

With the contact or switch member 82 bridging contacts 83 and 86, the closing oi. switch or contact it? will close a circuit to the parking lights through wires 8f, 88, I28, contact I28, wires 628, E23 and branch wires l2. If it is desired at this time to also light parking lights I22, the switch or contact II 8 is closed, the current flowing from switch I21, wires I29, 23, Ill, I and branches I22".

From the foregoing it will be plain that with the special switch in. its middle or normal position all the operations common to the ordinary operations of automobile lights can be performed in the usual manner and that this special arrangement of circuits does not interfere with such operation;

If it be desired to signal that the car is about to turn to the right the signal switch is moved to swing its blades 25, 26 and 2! to the right until the blade 28 engages contact 36 and blades and 21 disengage from contacts 33 and 31. This will deenerglze the wire 91 so that the filaments 69 and I5 will be deenergized. However, current will now flow through wire 99, flasher 89, wire 90, blade 26, contact 38, wire I", contact I91, contact I99, wire IIO, wire I", filament 8|, ground III and ground II back to the battery.

Also current will flow from wire III through wire Ill, filament II, ground I. and ground II back to the battery. Since this current flows through the flasher the dim filaments II and Il on the right side of the vehicle will display a series of flashes. At the same time the bright light filaments on the left side of the car may remain energized or they may be dimmed by the actIon of the fioor switch as before. In case either one or both filaments 99 and II burn out or break, the contact I91 may be shifted to engage contact I09 whereupon current will flow from contact I09 through wire II2 which will energize wire 91 so that, in the manner before described, filaments 99 and "will be energized but the current passing through the flasher will cause a series of bright fiashes at these filaments. If a left turn is to be signaled the blades 25, 26 and 21 are shifted to the left until blade 26 engages the contact and the blades 25 and 21 disengage from contacts 34 and 39 and thus open the circuits through filaments 68 and I2. Current will fiow as before through the flasher to blade 28 and from there through contact 95, wire IIII, contact I92, contact I93, wire I05, wire 99,

filament 85, ground 91 and back through ground CI to the battery. Current will also flow from wire I95 through wire III, filament 'II, ground 19 and ground SI back to the battery. This will cause flashing of the dim lights at the front and rear of the'vehicle. As before, moving the contact I02 'to engage contact I will cut out the dim lights and energize the wire 98 through wire I I I so that the filaments 98 and I2 will be flashed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lighting system for vehicles, right and left headlights each having a bright light filament and a dim light filament, right and left rear lamps each having a running light filament and a signal light filament, a battery, circuit connections between the battery and lamps including a switch normally connecting the bright light and running light filaments in multiple to the battery, said switch being movable to open the circuits of the right and left bright and running light filaments selectively, a flasher in series with said-battery, flasher circuit connections between said flasher and the right dim and signal light filaments and between the flasher and the left dim and signal light filaments, said circuit connections between the filaments and flasher including a single pole double throw switch movable with the first switch and selectively closing the right and left flasher circuits upon opening of the left and right circuits first mentioned. and means for selectively connecting the right and left flasher circuits to the right and left bright and running light filaments.

2. In a lighting system for vehicles, right and left headlights each having a bright light filament and a dim light filament, right and left rear lamps each having a running light filament and a signal lightnlamenha battery, circuit connections between the battery and lamps and including a switch normally connecting the bright light and running light filaments in multiple to the battery, said switch being movable to open the circuits of the right and left bright and running light filaments selectively, a flasher in series with said battery, flasher circuit connections between said flasher and the right dim and signal light filaments and between the flasher and the left dim and signal light filaments, said circuit connections between the filaments and flasher including a single pole double throw switch movable with the first switch and selectively closing the right and left flasher circuits upon opening of the left and right circuits first mentioned, and means for selectively connecting the right and left flasher circuitsvto the right and left bright and running light filaments, said means including a pair of branch connections each including a normally open switch, one of said branch connections leading from the left connection oi the flasher switch to the circuit connections to the left bright and running light' bright light and running light filaments in multiple to the battery, said switch being movable to open the circuits of the right and left bright and running light filaments selectively, a flasher in series with said battery, flasher circuit connections between said flasher and the right dini and signal light filaments and between the flasher and the left dim and signal light filaments, said circuit connections between the filaments and flasher including a single pole double throw switch movable with the first switch and selectively closing the right and left flasher circuits upon opening ofvthe left and right circuits first mentioned, means for selectively connecting the CARL I. ERICKSON. 

